Plate-locking device



1 1929- H. c. JORDHOY PLATE LOGKINGDE-VICE 2 Sheets-Sheet Original Fi led Feb. 20, 1925 52 (um 22% Jam/eo f Nov. 5, 1929. H. c. JORDHOY PLATE LOCKING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Feb. 20 1925 N WN F Nm MW W hm NW 0m Patented Nov. 5, 1929 cars HANS C. JORDHOY, F PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSZGNOB T0 V7001) NEWSZPAIER MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA PLATE-LOCKING- DEVICE Application filed February 20, 1925, Serial No. 10,622. Renewed April 6, 1929 This invention relates to a quick acting plate locking device for printing cylinders. The main object of the invention is to provide a clamp, which by a single operation will clamp and lock two plates in position, where- 1 signed to provide a simple and easily constructed device that will be positive in its action, will adjust itself automatically to compensate for any unevenness or any irregularity in the printing plate, and that can be operated almost instantaneously to bring the.

clamp into its final locking position so as to save valuable time when the newspaper is going to press. It is also so constructed as to provide powerful means for locking up the plates both singly and in pairs and constitutes a continuous take-up so that if the plates wear in running they will be automatically tightened. It is so constructed that it constitutes a practical and mechanical device for this purpose and is all contained within the circumference of the cylinder.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is an end view of a plate cylinder with a preferred embodiment of this invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a plan of a locking device showing it in a form in which it will clamp the plates at a plurality of points along their edges as in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan of a single set of clamps constituting the central part of Fig. 2 showin it in position on the cylinder; ig. at is a longitudinal sectional view through the center of Fig. 8 andshowing the parts in their retracted or unlocked position; Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the same parts in their final locking posit on, and

Fig. 6 is a similar view showlng the use of the device for looking a center plate without any outside plate.

I have shown the invention mounted as it is in practice on a plate cylinder 10. This a separate clip can'be used in accordance with this invention for each location at which it is desired to apply the clamping action to the edges of the plates. According to this invention the cylinder is provided with recesses 13 and 14 for receiving the parts to-be described, these recesses being repeated on the opposite end. In case of separate locking means for each clip they would be duplicated around the cylinder, but two sets of them are usedaround the cylinder anyway'for semi-cylindrical plates.

Referring first to the outside clip 12, this is mounted in a slidable box 15. This is formed of iron slotted inside for receiving the outside looking clip or ring 12. It is made square outside and fitted into the slotted groove 14; in the cylinder. An adjusting screw 16 is used for providing for adjustment of the sliding box as a whole, longitudinally of the cylinder. This screw is provided with a circumferential groove fitting into an eye in a bolt 17 fixed to the cylinder in the end of the slot 14 and it screws into a cross pin 18 fixed in the box. By turning the screw the longitudinal position of the box is changed. It is fastened in position by two bolts 19located in slots therein and screwing into the cylinder itself.

Mounted in the box is a pivot pin 20 extending across the box on which is pivoted an operating lever 21. This lever is provided with a socket 22 in which is removably located the operating handle 23, preferably in the form of a round bar which can be long enough for the operator to work the device conveniently, as for example, 10 inoheslong. This can be provided with a wooden handle or not, as desired. The lever 21 is provided with a slot 2& which in unlocked position is vertical for receiving a cross pin 25 on a locking link 26. The lever 21 can be operated by the handle 23 from the unlocked position 7 shown in Fig. 4 to the locking position shown in Fig. 5.

At a point directly under the locking bolt and adjacent to the lever 21 is a stationary cam 27 fixed to the box 15 by one or more screws or bolts 28 and preferably supporting the pivotpin 20. The motion of the locking lever from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5 necessarily moves the pin 25 first forward and the link slides along the flat top of the cam 27 ina straight longitudinal direction inwardly. The end of the locking link and the edge of the'cam are eccentrically curved so that as soon as the locking link passes off the fiat top surface of the cam, the locking link can swing downwardly about its pivot 29 along the curved surface of the cam, as shown in Fig. 5. On account of the eccentricity the link will be crowded inwardly as it moves down to firmly lock the plate. A spring30 forces it downward as indicated. VVhenit gets down to its lowest position the slot 24 is located in a position at right angles to the initial position of the locking handle when it is turned back toward the unlocking position. Thus the operating lever will positively swing the locking link up along'the curved surface of the cam until it slips overthe edge and rests on top thereof. This action first releases the plate and then drawsit back.

The pivot pin 29 is located on the clip 12 in a lug extending down therefrom. This clip, of course, has the usual slanting gripping'edge for engaging the outside plate 1 Screwing into the end of this clip and held by a set screw 32 is a rod 33 forming the main connection between the outside plate clip 12 andthecenter'clip 11. In the preferredform of the invention these outside clips extend nearly half way around the cylinder and each of them-is provided with three of these rods 33 extending from the semi-circular clip 12 but there are three of the clips 11, each one 'connected with its respective rod 33.

Each of the three rods 33 is guided in a perforation in the cylinderand connected at its innerend to a sleeve 35 in which the end is adjustable. I have shown a screw threaded *nut for this adjustment. This sleeve has an enlarged opening 36 in which is adapted to slide the end of a clip stud'37 which is provided with a cross pin 38 inside the opening 36 driven into the stud 37. This cross pin. can slide in this opening relative to the sleeve a distance equal to the length of this opening. As will be explained, this pin has ajplay in s the sleeve equal to half the motion of the clip 12, that is, the length of the opening 36 is designed to be about half thetot-al distance of travel of the outside clip. The stud 37 is'adjust'ably connected by ascrew thread on its ends with the center clip 11.

Now the operation of the handle 23 from the position shown in Fig. lbtothat shown in Fig. 5 will push in the link 26 and force it down and inwardly as indicated. l/Vith it it carries the clip 12, the box 15, of course, being stationary. During the first half of the motion the several clips 11 are not moved because that part of the motion is taken up in bringing the sleeve 35 up to a position in which the end of the opening 36 engages the pin 38, but from then on the motion of the two clips 12 and '11 is the same. At that instant, the clip 12 is clamped against the edge of the plate P, the other edge being held by the three clips 11, but from then on the plate with its clamps moves forward. The clip 11, which is of the usual construction on the surfaces, engages the inside plate P and clamps that up against the stationary center ring 9 by the cam action. The parts are now in the position shown in Fig. 5.

The unlocking motion is the same. turning of the handle 23 about its pivot in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5 swings clip 11 but as soon as it is .moved' enough for.

the end of the opening 36 to engage'and move the pin 38. the several clips 11 and the semicircular clip 12, together with the plate P,

will move outwardly. Finally the clip 12 will be drawn away from the end'of that plate so the plate P is first released an d the plate P then drawn back and finally released.

As shown in Fig. 6, this device can be used for the inside plate without any outside'plate but then it is necessary to have a connection between the outside slida-ble side clip 12 and the side center clips l1. The connecting parts between the inside-and outside clip will shove the inside clip forward in clamping. It can also be used for locking up an outside plate.

It will be seen. therefore, that this mechanism provides a powerful means for locking up the plate singly and in pairs, that the spring seated lock links provide continual take-up so that if the plates wear while running they will be automatically tightened thereby; that a single operation will clamp and lock two plates in position; that no screws or other means are required which will take several operations or any appreciable amount of time to lock and unlock the plates. Thus, economy in operation issecured at a time when a few moments are of material importance in getting out a "newsall the details of construction herein shown and described, but what I do claim is 1. In a plate clamp for a printing cylinder, the combination with a clip for engaging the edge of a plate, of a pivoted operating handle adapted to operate the clip a full stroke, and lock the plate, by a single rocking motion of the handle in one direction, a spring always ten ding to hold the handle in locking position, and a stop for positively holding the spring compressed when the clip is unlocked.

2. In a plate clamp for a printing cylinder, the combination with a clip for engaging the edge of a plate, of a spring pressed locking link, connected with the clip, a pivoted operating handle for operating the link and clip a full stroke by a single motion of the handle, and a stationary cam engaging the link when in locked position and holding the clip.

3. In a plate clamp for a printing cylinder, the combination with a clip for engaging the edge of a plate, of a spring pressed locking link connected with the clip, and a pivoted operating lever lnving a pin and slot, connection with the link and adapted, by a single motion of the handle, to force the clip up to plate engaging position, the slot being arranged in line with the point at which the lever is pivoted to exert a positive and powerful locking force on the clip.

4. In a plate clamp, the combination with a slidable looking clip for engaging the edge of a plate, of a pivoted locking link connected with the clip, a spring for forcing the locking link about its pivot, a cam for forcing the link longitudinally, and a pivoted lever connected with the link for sliding the clip back and forth.

5. In a plate clamp, the combination with a locking clip for engaging the edge of a plate, of a locking link pivotally connected with the clip, a spring for forcing the looking link about its pivot away from the clip, a fixed cam for operating the link longitudinally, and a pivoted lever connected with the link for sliding the link back and forth and along the face of the cam.

6. In a plate clamping device for a printing press, the combination with a slidable clip for engaging the edge of a plate, a locking link below the clip and extending therefrom, a fixed cam having a top surface on which the link is adapted to slide, and a spring for holding the link down against this surface and pushing the link beyond said surface when the link passes over its edge, said cam having a curved surface for engaging the end of the link when pulled down and locking the link and clip in advanced locking position. 7

7 In a plate clamp, the combinationwith a locking clip for engaging the edge of a plate, a pivoted locking link connected with the clip, a spring for forcing the locking link about its pivot, a pivoted lever connected with the'link forf sliding the link back and forth, and a fixed cam having a flat surface along which the link rcciprocates,"and an eccentric curved surface for receiving the end of the link and crowding the clip against the plate to lock it.

8. In a plate locking clamp, the combination with a clip movable longitudinally for engaging and pushing forward the edge of a plate, a locking link positioned on the bottom of the clip and extending outwardly therefrom and having a cross pin thereon, a

stationary cam for holding up the link during a part of the travel of the clip, the link being adapted to pass beyond the cam and slide down its side, and a spring for forcing the link down, of an operating lever pivoted on the cam and having a slot, which slot, when the operating lever is drawn back, is vertical and, when the lever is pushed forward, the slot almost horizontal, for moving said pin, link and clip forward with the lever positively throughout a part of its stroke, but when the link is moved far enough to ride off the top surface of the cam, the lever will swing the operating handle by means of the spring and pin and slot connection into a more advanced position, and whereby the unlocking motion will act directly on the locking link to raise it positively and bring it on the top of the cam.

9. In a plate locking clamp, the combination with a printing cylinder, a box located in a recess therein, means for adjusting said box longitudinally and holding it in adjusted positions, and a plate clip slidably mounted on the box, of an operating handle pivoted on the box for operating said plate clip throughout its traverse by a single operation, a center clip for engaging the opposite edge of the plate from that engaged by said plate clip, a lost motion connection between the first named clip and the second clip whereby, on the operation of thefirst named clip, said clip will first move it into engagement with the outside plate and will then move the outside plate along with the two clips until the inside clip engages the inside plate.

10. In a plate clamping device for clamping both an inside and an outside plate on a plate cylinder, the combination of an out-l side and an inside clip located in corresponding positions along the cylinder, the inside clip having means for engaging and holding down both of said plates, means for moving the outside clip forward into clamping position by a single motion and then locking it in its extreme position, a rod adjustably connected with the outside clip and having a recess therein of a length approximately equal to half a stroke of the outside clip, a rod adjustably connected with the inside clip and extending into said recess and having a cross pin thereon relatively slidable within the recess and the movement of the pin limited thereby, whereby when the outside clip is moved inwardly it will first move along taking with it the plateand. changing the position of the cross pin within the recess but not moving the: inside clip and then, when the outside plate engages against-the inside clip,'tl1e plate and clip both move along together due to the engagement of the cross pin with the end ofthe recess, and clamp'the inside plate. 7

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixedmy signature.

HANS C. JORDHOY. 

